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nostalgia

nostalgia, homesickness

noun noh-stal-JEE-ah Rare

Origin: Greek nostos (homecoming) + algos (pain)

Usage Note

Nostalgia is feminine: la nostalgia. It entered Italian (via French) in the 18th century as a medical term for homesickness. Today it covers any longing for the past. The phrase avere nostalgia di means to miss something: ho nostalgia di casa (I miss home).

Examples

"Sento nostalgia per gli anni della mia infanzia."

Natural Translation

I feel nostalgia for the years of my childhood.

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